2.1.2
Chapter 1: Key Themes
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Key Themes in Chapter 1
Chapter 1 focuses on characterising Briony. We are introduced to Briony's character through her being the focalizer of the narrative perspective. Chapter 1 is full of irony.
Narrative perspective
- The chapter is told from the perspective of a 3rd person omniscient narrator with Briony as the focalizer (the character from whose perspective we tend to see events).
- But the reader is kept at some distance from Briony. The narrative even invites us to laugh at Briony’s “fantasies” of herself as a writer and at her overblown, pretentious use of language.
Authorial intrusion: the play
- Through an authorial intrusion we learn that Briony’s play will not make it to performance: “Briony was hardly to know it then, but this was the project’s highest form of fulfilment”.
- This is the first example of McEwan breaking the chronological sequence of the novel’s narrative - in this case to foreshadow some disruption to Briony’s plans.
Irony: "no secrets"
- Some details in the opening chapter which appear insignificant on first reading take on deeper significance once the story becomes clearer.
- E.g. the descriptions of Briony as having “no secrets” and not having “it in her to be cruel” become charged with irony once future events are known.
Tragic irony in Briony's stories
- Likewise, that Briony’s stories are said to follow “the principles of justice” with “the morally dubious” being punished by death and the virtuous given the “reward” of marriage creates a sense of tragic irony for those aware of how Briony’s story at the end of Part One will result in a travesty of justice.
Briony as writer
- Briony’s creative instincts are associated with a desire to impose a sense of order on her surroundings but are also depicted as containing a moral purpose (e.g. to “guide” Leon towards the “right” wife) with good being rewarded and evil punished.
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Practice questions on Chapter 1: Key Themes
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books